Download Fritillaria pudica species sheet (1

Idaho Native Plant Society – White Pine Chapter
Native Plants, #4, 2007
Fritillaria pudica
Common Name: Yellow bells
General: Fritillaria pudica, or Yellow bells, is a monocot and
member of the lily family. It is an early bloomer in the Palouse
area – usually flowering in April or May, or even early June in the
higher elevations. It can be found in grassy sites, in sagebrush
country or under stands of open ponderosa pine in the drier
environments in all the Northwest states including northeast
California. 1 to 3 bell-shaped flowers rise from a single floral stem
which has linear leaves high on the stem. The corm is deepseated and forms mini-bulblets around the rim. The flower is
generally 2 to 6” high; the leaves usually extend a little higher.
The flower may turn to orange or brown as it ages and is followed
by a round seed pod. The flower is said to be fragrant but is so
low to the ground it is often not evident to the casual observer.
Each flower is composed of 6 tepals and 6 stamens. The seed pod
is 3-parted and erect and taller than the nodding flower.
Variations: There can be some variation in the flower color but
this is not common. A few named varieties were found on the web (‘Fragrance’, ‘Giant’, ‘Richard
Britten’). At least two bulb catalogues listed these bulbs in their offerings (Van Engelen and John
Scheepers).
Use in the landscape: Although the bulb could be dug and transplanted into a dry area of the garden
this is not recommended because the plants would be easily exterminated in a fragile habitat. Like the
trillium, if the plant stem were to break during transplanting, it would rob the bulb of its bloom for the
current year and of the potential bloom for the next. Propagating from seed may take three to four
years to get a bloom. Seeds can be sown directly in dry locations with spring moisture or propagated in
seed pans in soil which is composed of 40% sandy grit, 40% loam, 10% peat and 10% perlite. The
young plants should be transplanted to the garden site when dormant. The bulb will settle deeper with
each year as it ages. This is a favorite bulb of alpine and rock garden societies. It can be combined
with other small bulbs that like a moist spring but go dormant in the summer and would be a good
candidate for trough containers where it is less likely to be smothered by larger plants.
Edibility: The bulb was eaten fresh or steamed in pits by Eastern Washington and Idaho Native
Americans. The green seed pod is also edible.
Pests: Bear, deer, and ground squirrels often will eat the corm, the leaves or the seed pod.
Fritillaria pudica was collected by Lewis and Clark from the Clearwater River and noted by Douglas near
present day Spokane.
Other family members found in the area: Fritillaria lanceolata (Checker Lily, Mission Bells) at
McCrosky Park.
Native Plants should not be dug from the wild. Please purchase from reputable dealers.
For more information do a Google search on fritillaria pudica. Or see Arthur R. Kruckeberg, Gardening with
Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest.